Cannes Film Festival 2017: Dominic West on inspiration for The Square

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British actor Dominic West plays famous artist Julian in The Square

Dominic West has revealed he based his performance in Palme d’Or contender The Square on real-life contemporary artists – but refused to reveal who.

The Wire actor plays famous artist Julian in the art world satire, alongside Mad Men star Elisabeth Moss.

He admitted he would be “pretty scared” to meet Julian as those kind of people are “so powerful and so rich”.

Asked who he was inspired by for the role, he said: “I’m sure you can guess.”

He added of his character, who wears pyjamas, a sports jacket and tinted glasses: “My clothes give it away,” while co-star Claes Bang hinted that the name was also a clue.

‘Great artists’

The Square, by Force Majeur director Ruben Ostlund, focuses on Bang’s character Christian as the gallery he runs prepares for a new exhibition called The Square, a space in the courtyard which encourages members of the public to be altruistic.

Meanwhile, his private life starts to unravel after he is mugged and seeks the return of his belongings in an unorthodox way.

Julian’s work in the gallery includes piles of gravel arranged on the floor, and a neon sign reading: “You have nothing”.

Speaking about his character, West told press conference at the Cannes Film Festival: “I think they’re pretty scary, these guys, the incredibly knowledgeable artists who cannot be disputed because they’re talking about art, which is something there’s no definite answer to.

“So I’d be quite scared of meeting someone like that. Also, because they’re so powerful and so rich.”

Image copyrightGetty Images

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West with co-star Elisabeth Moss and director Ruben Ostlund in Cannes

Asked about the inspiration, he replied: “We had a lot of people in mind. A lot of the interview we filmed [when Julian takes part in a gallery event] was taken from various interviews with great international artists who we looked at in great detail.”

To laughter from the press, he added: “I can’t remember their names. But I’m sure you can guess. My clothes give it away.”

Christian is interviewed by American journalist Anne, played by Moss, and when he returns to her flat one night finds an ape in there with him – the presence of which is never explained in the film.

Sex scene

Ostlund said of the half-bonobo ape: “Anything can happen in a movie when a monkey appears in an apartment.